Over the last fifteen years, Montenegro’s coast has turned into one of the busiest resort-building sites in the Mediterranean. Global hotel brands such as Regent, One&Only, Aman and Banyan Tree are now present in a country of just over 600,000 people. Behind them stand a handful of large foreign investors.
Mohamed Alabbar and Eagle Hills (UAE)
The best-known name today is Mohamed Alabbar, the Emirati founder of Emaar, the developer of the Burj Khalifa, and chairman of Eagle Hills. In the region he is known for Belgrade Waterfront in Serbia.
In 2025 Montenegro signed a cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates, and plans were floated for a large development around Velika Plaža near Ulcinj, a 12 km sandy beach. The idea met strong public and environmental opposition, and the plans were scaled back. In April 2026 Eagle Hills Montenegro announced that the design for an eco-tourism village in Ulcinj was complete, with construction expected to start within a year.
Orascom Development: Luštica Bay and Mamula
Swiss-listed Orascom Development Holding, founded by Egyptian businessman Samih Sawiris, owns 90% of Luštica Bay, with the Montenegrin government holding the rest. It is the largest integrated resort under development in the country, with marinas, homes and The Chedi hotel.
Orascom also restored Mamula, a 19th-century fortress island at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, under a 49-year lease signed in 2015. It now operates as Mamula Island by Banyan Tree.
Porto Montenegro (Dubai)
Porto Montenegro in Tivat turned a former naval shipyard into a superyacht marina with apartments, shops and the Regent hotel. It has been owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai since 2016 and is often called the most influential tourism investment in modern Montenegro. In 2025 it added SIRO Boka Place, a wellness hotel from the Kerzner group.
Portonovi (Azerbaijan)
In Herceg Novi, Azerbaijani-owned Azmont Investments built Portonovi, home to the first One&Only resort in Europe, which opened in 2021.
Aman Sveti Stefan
The iconic island village of Sveti Stefan, closed for several years because of a contract dispute, reopened in 2026. Villa Miločer welcomed guests in May and the island itself in July.
What this means for property buyers
- Rising value around resorts. Big projects bring roads, marinas, restaurants and year-round jobs, which lift prices in the surrounding area.
- A longer season. Luxury hotels bring high-spending guests in spring and autumn too, which helps rental income.
- Global visibility. Every new international brand puts Montenegro on the map for buyers who had never considered it.
Big investments also bring debate about the environment and public access to the coast, as the Velika Plaža case showed. For buyers, the lesson is simple: follow the projects closely, because announced plans do not always turn into construction.
Want to buy near one of these developments? Balkan Homes can show you what is available and how prices in the area have moved.
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